Haversack/Habersack or not to Havresac?

1636ad. This bag shown attached to waist.

Copyright Keith H. Burgess . 31/8/08


Haversack/Habersack or not to Havresac ?

For a long time now there has been some conflict of opinion in regards to the haversack having been used by civilians. I have always maintained that such an item, once used to carry oats for horses from as far back as at least the Crusades, must have been used by civilians at one time or another. So for those of you who are not military, and wish to use a haversack, here is the documentation you need to justify using “The Haversack”.

The English called it a Haversack, the French a Havresac, and the Germans a Habersack. All three names mean the same thing, an oats bag. Somewhere along the line this bag got used to carry food for soldiers, and because there are good records kept regarding military matters, then there is more information pertaining to the use of the haversack by soldiers than anyone else.
However, once I started going back in time to the medieval period and beyond, I soon found that there was more than one bag matching the description of the haversack, and these bags tended to take on the name, related to their use. Some of these bags are: the Pilgrim’s Bag, Foraging or Forage Bag, Sack Bag, Bread Bag, Pocky. This style could also be known as a Beggar’s Bag, and probably more names that I have not yet found. All these bags follow the same style, some large and some smaller, some with flaps and some with no flap, some with buttons closure, and some without buttons and finally some with what appears to be a slit opening near the top of the bag, on the outside. In the following pictures and quotes you will be able to see for yourself that soldiers, militia, and civilians from all walks of life used these bags, by whatever name.

Note that this 1750 French Havresac looks similar to the period satchel.


Late 18th century. Dr Syntax’s servant wears a haversack.

MILITIA.
“powderhorn, bullet pouch to contain 40 leaden balls, knapsack, canteen, a firearm of good worth, a haversack, a belt, a good pair of overalls.” (Boston Gazette May 26, 1777)

1672-1708. The Bear Leader. This picture clearly shows the bear leader wearing a haversack or the same type of bag as the haversack.
Dated 1737, this knife grinder uses a haversack or similar, with what looks like a slit opening.
1. John Short, Violent Theft > highway robbery; George Thomas, Violent Theft > highway robbery, 2nd July 1746.
... you find them above Ground? West. They were in a Haversack in a Handkerchief under the Hedge, in a Bush, a Piece of green Grass over them: That Gentleman, Mr. Terry, discharg'd one of them in the Field. Court ...
Nightingale. Yes, my Lord; please you, my Lord, he told me of the Haversack and Handkerchief, and every Thing; he told us they were Pieces made out of Muskets, before ever we saw them .
http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/search.jsp?form=searchHomePage&_divs_fulltext=haversack&_persNames_surname=&_persNames_given=&_persNames_alias=&_offences_offenceCategory_offenceSubcategory=violentTheft%7ChighwayRobbery&_verdicts_verdictCategory_verdictSubcategory=&_punishments_punishmentCategory_punishmentSubcategory=&_divs_div0Type_div1Type=&fromMonth=&fromYear=1674&toMonth=&toYear=1750&ref=&submit.x=43&submit.y=12

This lantern merchant clearly uses a large haversack type bag.

the prepared throne, you can see the open book of the Sacred Scriptures (symbol of the presence of God awaiting the Final Judgement), Adam, Eve and the Angels are all kneeling with smaller angels – 5) above the door: The Archangel Michael weighs the souls with scales and the Devil puts those who belong to him in his haversack
http://www.initalytoday.com/veneto/venice/torcello.htm


At least a couple of haversacks can be seen in this picture which I believe to be civilian French militia, late 17th century to early 18th century. Certainly there seems to be no uniforms.

In 1885 he made the acquaintance of Monticelli. The two artists wandered through Provence on foot, haversacks on their backs,
http://www.serdar-hizli-art.com/modern_painting/cezanne_paul.htm

These 15th century pictures show two different haversack type Pilgrim bags.

History and utilization
Beagle is the oldest hunting-dog breed and belongs to the smallest boodle hounds. Name "beagle" is deduced from a word "small" (celtic "beag", oldenglish "begle", oldfrench "beigh"). There are notations in books about so-called dwarfish beagles, which used to be carried by hunters in haversacks on horses.
“Boone supposedly carried Jerk and Johnny cakes by the Haversack full, if I could find the exact reference... (Draper)”
http://www.oldetoolshop.com/trekking/library/foods.html

Another type of haversack type bag which appears to have pouches attached.

"farmers," "yeomen," or "husbandmen;"
"shopkeepers," "fishermen," "labourers;"
clothing, haversacks, and blankets were served out to them “Parkman, Francis, Montcalm and Wolfe 1823-1893.
http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/4/5/1/14517/14517.htm

Minute Men.
“a powderhorn, a bullet pouch to contain 40 leaden balls, a knapsack, a canteen, a firearm of good worth, a haversack, a belt, a good pair of overalls.” (Boston Gazette May 26, 1777)
1806. Houndsman wearing a haversack.
”It should also be watched that the men bring good Arms and Accouterments, Blanket, Haversack and Knapsack at their own expense.” 1776.

And potatoes were a common crop. We know that because hungry German mercenaries scavenged for spuds in the field where many were to be slain the next day, even, said witnesses, tying off the ankles of trousers and filling them with the tubers when their forage bags were full.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/features/fraser/story.html?id=1dd7a18c-9086-4486-97ef-f90b01fae970

Two “Beggar’s Bags” joined on a medalian.
Geuzen medal by Jacques Jonghelinck, cast silver, original gilt, 1566
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geuzen_medals

FORAGE BAGS.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=-BrE3yA2emYC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=FORAGE+bag%2B17th+century&source=web&ots=4yHIg-sIBC&sig=s2pVukPTzEgiajKc0yTS-SAyX-U&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA31,M1
FORAGE, FOOD BAGS ETC.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=54vrDNXJAMgC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=forage+bag&source=web&ots=U5hIMm8X3l&sig=Isyy_cAIw0cPH08E67SdoewxuCk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result

http://groups.msn.com/ReenactingtheMiddleAges/forsale.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=517&LastModified=4675616685675603216

http://caergalen.org/pipermail/sca-list_caergalen.org/2006-November/003489.html

http://cailin.blox.pl/html
http://www.realgeek.com/forums/bill-gates-should-dragged-hung-84712-2.html

http://bagorama.blogspot.com/2006/06/pilgrims-bag.html

http://www.ushistory.org/carpentershall/history/pa.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/9154/Joemodeling/packframe.html